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(Greg Fiume / A-10)

BY SAM DOUGLAS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND BRIAN A. HAYUM, SPORTS EDITOR

Five days after a dominant win over nationally-ranked Saint Louis, George Mason men’s basketball ended their season with a stunning 63-57 loss.

The fifth-seed Patriots lost to No. 13 St. Bonaventure in the second round of the A-10 tournament on March 12 in Pittsburgh. 

Graduate guard Jahari Long led Mason with 17 points, including 14 in the first half. Junior forward Riley Allenspach had another strong game, logging a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double. 

“I expected better,” Coach Tony Skinn said. “I’m frustrated.” 

“My seniors didn’t go out the way I expected them to,” he said. “The highs and lows of this sport: you win at home against one of the better teams, not just in our league, but in the country. Then you come back, and you lay an egg in the second half; it’s unfortunate.”

Long had a first half to remember, scoring 14 points (5-7 FG, 3-5 3PT) in the first 14 minutes of the game. Mason’s floor general capped off his torrent start with a step-back 3-pointer, giving Mason a 26-17 lead with 5:56 left in the half. 

The Patriots would make 3 of their final 9 shots before the half, holding a 10-point lead over the Bonnies at halftime.

St. Bonaventure, playing with added motivation after Head Coach Mark Schmidt announced his retirement at the end of their season after his 25-year-long coaching career, stymied Long and the Patriots’ offense in the second half.

“This moment is for those guys,” Schmidt said, who has coached at St. Bonaventure since 2007. “They’re the ones that put in the time; I just walk up and down the sideline.” 

“They’re the ones that put in the work.”  

The size and physicality of senior forward Frank Mitchell stifled Mason. Mitchell had a productive outing with 14 points and 7 rebounds, but the 6-foot-7-inch, 280-pound Bonnie’s defense proved to be game-wrecking for the Patriots. 

Mitchell led a ferocious defensive effort, recording 5 steals in the second half. 

“Frank Mitchell is Frank Mitchell, you’re not going to be able to do anything about that,” Skinn said.

Junior guard Dasonte Bowen also had a day to remember for the Bonnies, playing all 40 minutes and racking up 20 points. Bowen continuously drew foul calls against an aggressive Mason defense, making all nine of his attempts from the free-throw line.

Going into the game, the Patriots were favored over St. Bonaventure. The Patriots won both regular-season meetings against the Bonnies, including a win in Fairfax on Feb. 28. 

The result is a disappointing end for a Mason team that won 18 of their first 19 games of the season — the best start in program history. The team slipped down the conference standings, losing 5 of 7 games in February, but bounced back with a win against ranked Saint Louis in the final game of the regular season.

With four seniors graduating and the daunting prospect of the transfer portal, Skinn and his staff will have to regroup in the offseason and look forward to next season.

“No matter who it is in our league, anybody can beat anybody,” he said. “And you try to think about the offseason, we’re going to graduate some guys, and we all know how it goes.” 

“You may lose a guy or two in the [transfer] portal. We’re going to have to regroup, I’m aware of that, that doesn’t scare me at all.” 

The Patriots’ season may not be over yet, as they could compete in the National Invitation Tournament. The NIT features teams that were not selected for March Madness. 

The competitors for this year’s NIT will be announced tonight at 9:30 p.m.

(Addison Cox / Fourth Estate)

BY BRADY LANDRY AND SAMUEL GATEWOOD, STAFF WRITERS

Mason men’s basketball (23-8, 11-7 in A-10) closed out the regular season with a statement win at home against No. 25 Saint Louis University (27-4, 15-3 in the A-10), defeating the Billikens 86-57 on March 7. 

After losing five of seven games in February, a top-25 win gives Mason a springboard of momentum heading into this week’s A-10 tournament.

“This was the game we needed. It’s been a long season, a lot of ups and downs,” Coach Tony Skinn said. “We needed a moment against a really good team to get our swagger back before heading into Pittsburgh.” 

“I’m super happy, proud of these guys … this is the type of win that you need before going into your conference tournament.”

Mason dominated Saint Louis on defense, holding them to their lowest point total of the season on 39.7% FG, and outperforming them in rebounds, 41-26. Five Patriots scored in double figures on the offensive end, but it was graduate guard Jahari Long’s night. 

Long notched 21 points and 9 assists, becoming only the second Patriot ever to record over 20 points and 8 assists in a game. 

In addition to Long’s performance, the Patriots received contributions from multiple players. Forwards Emmanuel Kanga and Nick Ellington logged double-doubles, as Ellington celebrated Senior Day by making the first 3-pointer of his collegiate career.

Sharpshooting junior guard Kory Mincy had his best performance since injuring his shooting thumb during the Patriots’ loss to Duquesne, scoring 15 points (6-11 FG, 2-5 3PT).  

The Patriots took their first double-digit lead of the game thanks to a layup from Long with 1:10 left in the first half. Mason didn’t look back, going into the second half with a 9-point lead and proceeding to outscore the Billikens by 20 after the break.

Mason made their mark in the second half, going on a 17-0 run and leading by as many as 34 points.

Looking ahead, the Patriots will enter the A-10 tournament as the No. 5 seed and will play St. Bonaventure on Thursday, March 12, in Pittsburgh. The game will be available to watch live on USA Network. 

(Keith Lucas / Sideline Media / A-10)

BY BRIAN A. HAYUM, SPORTS EDITOR AND PETER MAHLER, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

No. 1 Rhode Island defeated No. 2 George Mason women’s basketball 53-51 in the A-10 Championship game on March 7, holding the Patriots to 32.2% FG and ending their title-defending run. 

“I thought the game was a slugfest,” Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis said. “At the end of the day, we didn’t put the ball in the hole like we needed to.”

Mason’s top two scorers, juniors Zahirah Walton and Kennedy Harris, came into the game fronting most of the offensive load for Mason. The duo were averaging a combined 39 shots per game, but the Rams’ defense made maintaining that record difficult. 

The duo combined to make only 9 of their 36 shots from the field for a 25% shooting percentage. 

“I would live and die by the shots that we took, and all of those shots we make 100% of the time, but today they just didn’t connect,” Blair-Lewis said.

Rhode Island’s Albina Syla led the charge on the glass with 10 rebounds, including 7 on defense. The Finnish center added 9 points and a block, winning tournament MVP in the process. In three games, Syla averaged 14.7 ppg and 10 rpg.

Mason’s defense blitzed the Rams in the first quarter, holding Rhode Island to 7 points (3-for-8 FG) and forcing seven early turnovers. Mason entered the second quarter with a 15-7 lead, but the Rams swung momentum, outscoring the Patriots 17-10 in the period. 

The Patriots looked vulnerable even as they held the lead at half, and the Rams began seizing control of the game. Rhode Island tightened its grip with a 6-0 start in the third quarter, keeping Mason to just 9 points on a woeful 3-of-11 shooting.

(Keith Lucas / Sideline Media / A-10)

Mason missed a crucial opportunity during a six-minute stretch in the fourth quarter where both teams suffered a scoring drought. Trailing by 3 with five minutes left, the Patriots went 0-for-4 from the field — including misses from Walton and Harris — before Brooklyn Gray’s layup ended the stalemate and pushed the Rhode Island lead to 5 with 1:57 remaining.

Senior Jada Brown drained a second-chance 3-pointer, bringing Mason to a 3-point deficit with 15 seconds remaining, but the last-ditch effort wasn’t enough. 

After a season where her team returned to the A-10 title game and claimed the school’s first-ever regular season championship, Blair-Lewis displayed perspective and a sense of pride. 

“Yes, this is not the outcome we wanted, but it was exponential growth … and [the players] grew as human beings,” she said. “Somebody had to win, and somebody had to learn.”

Having clinched an automatic bid into the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament (WBIT), the Patriots aren’t done yet. Fans can watch this historic Mason squad when the tournament begins Thursday, March 19.

(Keith Lucas / Sideline Media / A-10)

BY BRIAN A. HAYUM, SPORTS EDITOR AND PETER MAHLER, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

George Mason women’s basketball (21-8, 16-2 in A-10) is one win away from punching their ticket into the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row. 

The two-seeded Patriots defeated No. 3 Richmond (26-6, 15-3 in A-10), 60-45, in the A-10 semifinals Saturday, booking a spot in the championship game against top-seeded Rhode Island this afternoon.

Coming off the heels of an emotional comeback overtime victory against Dayton, the Mason defense imposed their will, holding a Richmond squad with two top-10 scorers in the A-10 to under 50 points for the second time this season. 

Mason’s defense shut down A-10 Player of the Year Maggie Doogan, who was the top scorer in the conference during the regular season (21 ppg). Doogan managed just 10 points against Mason on a 27% field goal percentage, her second-lowest total of the season.

“We knew that we had to come out and be very formidable defensively, because they had a really good offensive squad,” Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis said. “I thought our ladies locked in today, and [juniors Zahirah Walton and Kennedy Harris] just came to put the nail in the coffin offensively.”

Walton and Harris carried the load for the Patriots on offense, combining for 42 of Mason’s 60 points. Walton scored a team-high 24 points, was 9-24 from the field and added 9 rebounds, including 6 on offense.

Harris, who sustained a lower-body injury the day before, returned with another double-digit game, scoring 18 points on 38% from the field.  

(Keith Lucas / Sideline Media / A-10)

With Richmond’s campus just miles away from Henrico, Harris commended the Mason Nation for their energy this weekend. 

“They’re always loud, and they’re always supporting us, so that just gave us the energy to do what we used to do on the court,” Harris said.

Harris anchored a strong backcourt, recording four steals that include a pivotal play in the second quarter. Stripping the ball from junior Ally Sweeney, Harris tiptoed along the sideline and finished the basket on the fast break with less than 3 minutes left in the first half.

Mason now has a chance to repeat as A-10 champions, and Harris believes her team is battle-tested and confident.

“I think we’ve been in every type of situation when it comes to any game we have played,” Harris said. “So I think now it’s just that we’re using all of that to our advantage, and we’re prepared.” 

With an A-10 title on the line, fans can watch the Patriots take on the Rhode Island Rams (26-4, 16-2 in A-10) at 4 p.m. on ESPN2. 

(Keith Lucas / Sideline Media / A-10)

BY BRIAN A. HAYUM, SPORTS EDITOR AND PETER MAHLER, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

According to ESPN analytics, junior guard Kennedy Harris’ turnover with 3:51 left in regulation gave George Mason women’s basketball (21-8, 16-2 in A-10) a 1.4% chance of advancing to the A-10 tournament semifinals. 

Against all odds, the Patriots mounted a 10-point comeback late in the fourth quarter, forcing overtime and defeating the Dayton Flyers (17-14, 9-9 in A-10) 87-85 thanks to a buzzer-beater by junior forward Louis Volker.

Tied at 85 with less than two seconds remaining, Dayton’s Molly O’Riordan denied Mason forward Hawa Komara at the basket, but the ball took a fortunate deflection into Volker’s hands for the game-winning score.

“I think I got my swagger back!” Volker yelled at the camera following the thrilling finish. 

Her impact was felt well before the decisive play, wrestling 3 offensive rebounds in the overtime period and anchoring the defense.

“To me, it felt like a movie,” junior Zahirah Walton said. “It was all in slow motion. It was crazy, but I was very proud of Louis, because she made those extra plays for us.” 

Though six Patriots notched at least 8 points, Dayton’s offense overwhelmed them until the decisive final minutes. 

“I’m glad this game is over,” said Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis after witnessing her team give up 46 points in the paint.

Dayton’s frontcourt punched Mason in the mouth early. O’Riordan, junior Fatima Ibrahim and junior Ajok Madol were a mismatch nightmare in the paint, combining for 47 points on 74% shooting.

“There was a lot of miscommunication between our guards and how we wanted to switch,” Blair-Lewis said. “It gave them an opportunity to post up a smaller guard.” 

Dayton, coming off a 62-54 win over No. 10 George Washington the day before, was battle-tested and well-prepared for the Patriots.

“I give it up to Dayton,” Blair-Lewis said. “They had a great gameplan. They came off a great win last night; they were just high-spirited. Sometimes, those are the toughest teams to play.” 

Although the Flyers flew up and down the court on offense, the Patriots kept up the pressure, scoring 26 points off 21 Dayton turnovers.

On their last breath, and after allowing Dayton to land over 50% of their shots, it was the defense that brought Mason back.

Down 2 with 2:16 left in regulation, freshman Mary Amoateng deflected a bad pass by Dayton’s senior Nayo Lear, which Walton then pounced on to solidify the comeback. 

Amoateng missed two free throws that would’ve put Mason up four with 11 seconds left, leading to a game-tying layup by Lear with 6 seconds left. 

Harris, who led the game with 24 points, began the game on fire, landing 5 of her first 6 shots during an 11-point first quarter. Despite sustaining a lower-body injury near the end of the first half, she came up huge during overtime, landing her first three field goal attempts in a back-and-forth exchange where the score was tied four times until Volker iced it.

After scraping past Dayton, the Patriots will face No. 3 Richmond (25-6, 15-3 in A-10) today at 1:30 p.m. in the conference semifinals. They previously overcame the Spiders in a 46-37 grudge match on Feb. 16 after falling 71-57 a week before.

(Quang Vu Minh / George Mason Athletics)

BY PETER MAHLER, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

On the heels of a five-game win streak that culminated in the program’s first-ever regular season title, George Mason women’s basketball (21-8, 16-2 in A-10) will travel to Henrico, Virginia, for a chance to defend last year’s A-10 tournament championship.

On a dreary Tuesday afternoon at EagleBank Arena, Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis performed the hallowed rite of cutting down the nets, celebrating another successful season in front of her beaming players and not letting the bad weather rain on their parade.

Since before the season began, Blair-Lewis has championed the mantra, “Believe Big Squared,” saying that exponential growth, not just wins, is what the team would be chasing during the 2025-26 season. 

“The expectation was to be back in the same spot,” junior guard Kennedy Harris said, referring to the team’s preseason mindset. 

“We had different teams, different teammates, new energy — but I feel like this energy has brought us to the same spot and even better,” she said.

Inheriting a program that went winless in conference play the year before, Coach Blair-Lewis has completely transformed Mason’s trajectory, leading the Patriots to three straight 20-win seasons for the first time ever, cementing herself in school history.

Blair-Lewis, who holds a 55-30 career record in the A-10, praised her team’s selfless chemistry, noting that they care more for each other than they do for themselves individually.

“They have worked so hard, they have believed in the assignment, they believed in each other, they believed in this coaching staff … There’s a standard here and they understand that,” Blair-Lewis said with the netting still in her hands. 

“It’s been so easy to coach them because they are competitors by heart, but they’re sisters by blood.” 

For star junior forward Zahirah Walton, the team chemistry begins off the court during team dinners — one of many moments where she and her teammates come together.

Walton, named All-Conference First Team on Tuesday, has been a constant presence since stepping onto campus in 2022. After averaging 11 ppg and 14.8 ppg in her first two seasons, Walton delivered her best campaign yet, leading the Patriots with 18 ppg — good for second in the A-10 — as well as in rebounds, assists and blocks.

“It’s a great feeling, for sure, working hard in the summer, and seeing the results pay off,” said Walton. “I think it’s a [testament] to hard work. It’s going to show regardless. If you keep working, it’s going to show up.” 

Blair-Lewis says that Walton is relentless. “I think that, when you are one of the best players in the A-10 — and everybody is focusing on you night in, and night out — for her to show up every single day to the best of her ability … that takes a lot,” Blair-Lewis said. 

“It takes a lot of consistency, and even in the tough games where she struggles sometimes to score, she was still able to be out there for her teammates and defend and fill in the other categories besides scoring … She is a pro in her game,” Blair-Lewis said.

Harris joined Walton on the All-Conference First Team and earned All-Academic honors, while graduate forward Hawa Komara was named to the All-Defensive Team. Freshman guard Mary Amoateng capped an impressive debut, landing on both the All-Rookie and All-Defensive teams.

The Patriots rode a 10-0 start to their A-10 schedule before losses to third-in-conference Richmond (25-6, 15-3 in A-10) and co-regular season champion Rhode Island (25-4, 16-2 in A-10) back in early February exposed cracks in their armor.

Mason struggled in those outings, shooting a combined 32% (45-of-140) and averaging just 60 points. The defense uncharacteristically gave up over 70 points in each matchup — a significant departure from their season standards of 67 points scored and 60 allowed.

“During that little segue in our season, we were struggling to score,” Blair-Lewis said. “And so our conversation was, ‘That’s not the only way to impact the game. Let’s get back to our defensive prowess.’”

Blair-Lewis, Walton and Harris all point to the 46-37 win against Richmond as the season’s defining moment — a game where Mason’s defense singlehandedly avenged an earlier loss.

“I think we responded really well to adversity during the hard time that we were dealing with as a team… and that showed that we can respond and be the team that we want to be,” Harris said.

Blair-Lewis echoed Harris’s sentiment, saying it fueled them for the rest of the season and challenged them to rely on their defense to help spark their offense.

(Quang Vu Minh / George Mason Athletics)

Mason hasn’t lost since defeating Richmond on Feb. 16. On top of a stout defense that is holding opponents to under 60 ppg, Walton, Harris and Amoateng have powered the Patriots’ offense to the longest win streak of any team heading into the tournament.

“I think the wins come when you do things the right way and you have an expectation from your players to grow like we want them to grow,” Blair-Lewis said. “And not just haphazardly. Let me be efficient in everything that I do so it shows up somewhere else.” 

Mason will look to continue their “herstoric” run going into the A-10 tournament, where they will face No. 7 Dayton. Fans can tune in tomorrow on ESPN+ to watch the 5 p.m. tipoff.

(Isabella Pearlstein / Fourth Estate)

BY ISABELLA PEARLSTEIN, STAFF WRITER

Spring break is just around the corner, and if you’re staying in the area or find yourself walking along Constitution Avenue or the National Mall in D.C., take time to visit the National Museum of American History. The museum has many exciting exhibits on a variety of different topics, from food history to lowriding culture in the United States. 

The museum consists of three floors and is split into an east wing and a west wing.

For those interested in the evolution of food and food culture in the U.S. after World War II, the first floor exhibit simply titled “Food” is the place to go. Standout displays in the exhibit include famous American chef Julia Child’s kitchen, the world’s first frozen margarita machine and innovations in making wine and brewing beer.

(Isabella Pearlstein / Fourth Estate)

The next dazzling site is the “Corazón y Vida: Lowriding Culture” exhibit, located on the third floor in the West Wing. The exhibit details the art form, traditions and Chicano origins of low riding culture in the United States. 

Two of the most striking displays in the exhibit include two Chevy Impalas “El Rey” and “Gypsy Rose.” The “El Rey” display features an interactive plaque that allows you to feel the engraved metal and paint job.

Another must-see exhibit on the third floor is “Entertainment Nation,” which includes props and costumes from “Star Wars,” the Muppets and other popular films. There are many recognizable displays in this exhibit: Dorothy’s ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz,” Walter White’s hazmat suit from the show “Breaking Bad” and Dana Scully’s FBI badge from “The X-Files.” 

(Isabella Pearlstein / Fourth Estate)

The “First Ladies” exhibit located next to the “Entertainment Nation” exhibit showcases various gowns worn by several first ladies. It also features the different state china services the first ladies brought into the White House that date back almost 100 years.

Presenting many intriguing topics and artifacts, the fun and interactive displays at the National Museum of American History make the museum the perfect place to visit this spring break.

(Addison Cox / Fourth Estate)

BY BRIAN A. HAYUM, SPORTS EDITOR AND BRADY LANDRY, STAFF WRITER

George Mason men’s basketball (22-7, 10-6 in A-10) ended its four-game losing streak with a 71-58 win over the St. Bonaventure Bonnies on Feb. 28. The Patriots were led by junior forward Riley Allenspach and senior guard Masai Troutman, who combined for 42 points and 7 of the team’s 12 3-pointers. 

The Patriots’ 12 3-pointers are the most they’ve made in a game since Nov. 24 against Ohio University. 

“To be able to get this win, to try to find some momentum as our season gets a little bit closer to March, I think it’s important for our guys, our spirit, and hopefully we can find our way in March,” said Head Coach Tony Skinn.

The Patriots opened the game with an offensive explosion in the first five minutes. Troutman started the party from deep, hitting a corner 3-pointer to beat the shot clock to take a 5-0 lead.

Allenspach and junior guard Kory Mincy would make the next two 3-pointers before a 3-point play from Mincy capped off an exhilarating 14-2 run. The Bonnies failed to respond, as the Patriots went into the half with the lead for the first time in nine games. 

“It’s no secret that this whole year we’ve had trouble with our starts,” Allenspach said. “The message coming out of the locker room to start the game was we have to punch them first.”

Head Coach Mark Schmidt’s Bonnies cut the Patriots’ lead to 5 with a 7-0 run to start the second half, but the resilient Patriots would respond with an 8-0 run that saw their lead stay intact for the rest of the game.

The Patriots also got a strong performance out of graduate guard Jahari Long, who scored 11 points and a team-leading 6 assists. One of the lone bright spots during the Patriots’ four-game losing streak, Long is averaging 9.6 ppg and 4 assists in his last 5 games.

The Patriots, who entered the game allowing an average of 79 points per game during their four-game losing streak, put on a defensive showcase against the Bonnies, holding them to 58 points. 

When asked about his team’s defense following the game, Coach Skinn said they were “much, much better in [their] transition defense.”

Mason lost senior guard Fatt Hill to a lower-body injury near the end of the first half. He did not return for the rest of the game. The injury is a major blow to a Patriot offense that needs all the firepower it can muster heading into postseason play. 

Hill, who started his fourth game of the year on Saturday, was averaging 10.7 ppg on 49% FG coming into the game. His status for the final two games of the season and the A-10 tournament is undetermined. 

Looking ahead, the Patriots will look to start a new winning streak when they take on the VCU Rams (22-7, 13-3 in A-10)  in Richmond today at 7 p.m.  The game will be streamed on CBS Sports Network.

(Davon Marion / Fourth Estate)

BY PETER MAHLER, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

On a sunny Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh, George Mason women’s basketball (21-8, 16-2 in A-10) closed out a historic season, winning their fifth straight game by defeating Duquesne (11-18, 4-14 in A-10) by a score of 65-48, and bringing home the program’s first-ever regular-season conference title.

Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis’ Patriots share the championship crown with Rhode Island (25-4, 16-2 in A-10) heading into the A-10 tournament, with an early-season loss giving the Rams the tiebreaker. Because of that, Rhode Island will be the No. 1 seed in the A-10 tournament, while Mason will be the No. 2 seed. Mason’s 16 wins mark the most in a season, having registered three consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time.

Duquesne junior guard Reina Green opened the scoring with 6 points, pushing the Dukes to an early 8-2 lead. The advantage didn’t hold for long, as a 32-7 Mason response gave the Patriots a 17-point lead by halftime.

Junior Zahirah Walton led Mason in scoring for the fourth straight game, recording a 16-point, 13-rebound double-double. The two-way forward ends the regular season averaging a career-best 18 ppg that is second in the A-10, while leading Mason in rebounding, assists and blocks.

Junior guard Kennedy Harris and senior guard Jada Brown combined for 29 points, with Brown shooting lights out, finishing 4-of-5 from three.

Mason held an opponent to under 50 points for the eighth time this season. The Patriot defense, which has allowed just over 59 ppg, stymied the Dukes, surrendering just 17 first-half points on 30% shooting from the field. 

Duquesne’s offense woke up in the second half, scoring 31 points on a slightly improved 35% from the field, but Mason’s commanding lead never fell below double digits.

Green (11 points and 11 rebounds) and junior guard Gabby Grantham-Medley (12 points and 10 rebounds) were effective for the Dukes with double-doubles, but few players around them could match Mason’s firepower. 

Harris and freshman guard Mary Amoateng each added 4 steals as the Patriots stole the ball 13 times, scoring 16 points off 20 Duquesne turnovers. 

Now locked into their tournament seed, the Patriots own a double-bye going into the A-10 quarterfinals. They play Friday, March 6 at 5 p.m. against either No. 7 Dayton or No. 10 George Washington, two teams they swept during the regular season.

(Emma G. Schaible / Fourth Estate)

BY ANDREW T. YARBROUGH, STAFF WRITER

“Scam artists have existed for thousands of years, and the internet just gives them another platform to do it,” said Matthew Dalton, Mason’s Chief Information Security Officer. 

Recently, George Mason students have experienced a significant surge in targeted phishing emails, urging users to click fake links claiming to have information on job opportunities, ICE sightings on campus and security alerts. 

These links are designed to steal NetID credentials. Information Technology Services is attempting to address the issues. 

Dalton explained the recent uptick is related to the time of year. 

“You will always see an increase in phishing in [the] late February to late March time frame, because it’s tax season,” he said.

Dalton described an ongoing battle between those phishing and those defending against it. Scammers learn about the security controls installed in a system to prevent malicious emails and look for ways around them. Once they find a way to get around those barriers, users notice another uptick in phishing attempts.

Phishing schemes can be identified by three characteristics: First, scammers make an attempt to establish trust; someone might send a message pretending to be in a position of authority, including claiming they are from IT Services or the GMU Police. 

Secondly, phishing emails are characterized by a lack of timeliness. They encourage urgency, but feature no clear timeline of when actions need to be taken by the receiver. 

Finally, scam emails utilize something of value to the receiver, with lines such as ‘We see something wrong with your account, click this link.’

To protect themselves from scams, students should be wary of spacing or grammatical errors inside the emails they receive. However, Dalton noted that may not always be the case anymore due to the onset of generative AI. 

“Take a look to see who [an email] actually is from. If it says they’re them, but it’s coming from a Gmail address … think twice; stop and think about what this is.” Dalton said. 

It is critical to pay attention to the links inside emails as well.

Links in emails claiming to be from the university, which solely relies on Microsoft as a vendor, should not take users to a Google Doc. 

Dalton said students should report suspicious emails to Information Technology Services. This allows ITS to confirm the scam and send out a proactive email to anyone who may have received it to minimize its impact on the Mason community.

ITS is helping Mason be more aware of phishing attempts by utilizing phishing inoculation, also commonly referred to as an attack simulation by Microsoft. 

This software simulates phishing attempts, but once a link is clicked on, it will prompt receivers with a message with information about phishing attempts. By regularly doing these training sessions, rather than one yearly training session, users stay informed and more aware of tactics that scammers may utilize. 

ITS has launched a multi-faceted effort to spread awareness, having posted information on social media and posters on campus in addition to the frequent simulations.

However, phishing only plays a small role in cybersecurity. To best protect themselves online, users should run the latest operating system, keep their applications up to date and make sure that they have installed anti-virus software.

Dalton recommended that users make sure that their accounts have an encrypted password or a set passkey. He also recommended that users utilize OneDrive, which is offered by GMU, or have an external hard-drive to back up files. 

Dalton warned against too many restrictions. 

“We want to make sure that we are finding that sweet spot of protecting everybody, but not to the point we’re restricting them … people aren’t here in order to not get phished, they’re here in order to learn.” 

Being cyber-aware is critical when dealing with phishing emails. ITS provides information and examples about phishing on its website, along with general security best practices and even a recommendation for anti-virus software.

(Jalynn Kirabo / Fourth Estate)

BY BASIL MUSTAFA, STAFF WRITER

Unified Fits, a Mason-affiliated humanitarian fashion organization, rolled out the runway on the night of Feb. 20 in the Hub Ballroom.

The event, titled “Runway on Shuffle,” presented a series of themed outfits to match different genres of music, ranging from country to rock.

Unified Fits, an organization in its first year on campus, intends to use fashion to foster community and give resources to people and communities in need. 

As their first event on campus, the event began with a monologue expressing the role that music and fashion play in self-expression before transitioning into music from Beyonce’s “Cowboy Carter” album. The first model walked out in knee high, bright red heels with flares to match her cowgirl getup and start off the country portion of the show.

Six more models walked out one by one in country themed attire. Flashy belts, cowboy hats and full denim outfits graced the runway. Immediately after the last model of the country portion returned backstage, the crowd was prompted to break out into a line dance.

(Jalynn Kirabo / Fourth Estate)

The energy shifted as the musical stylings of Paramore, Pierce the Veil and Rob Zombie controlled the rock section. The models ruled the aesthetic, donning black clothing and metal jewelry. 

The hip-hop/R&B section followed the rock theme. A model wearing light blue corduroy pants to match his denim jacket dribbled a basketball down the runway to Travis Scott’s “Hyaena.”

Breakfamous, a Mason-affiliated break dance crew, performed during the hip-hop section. LL Cool J and Missy Elliot were in rotation during a performance that involved acrobatics and a lively crowd.

Sports played a key role in the hip-hop section. One model wore a bedazzled Ray Lewis jersey to match a tie that was wrapped around her waist like a belt. Another sported a backward Micheal Jordan jersey along with a gold chain and jean shorts.

During the pop section, a crowd member was ushered onto the runway and performed a string of Michael Jackson dance moves while the King of Pop played in the back.

The Black Mambas, a Mason dance team, was brought in and performed fast-paced afrobeat choreography. Splits, flips, Azonto and Shaku Shaku were all incorporated to energize the crowd.

(Jalynn Kirabo / Fourth Estate)

To punctuate the show, United Fits delivered a multicultural display. Haitian, Indigenous American, South Asian and Puerto Rican cultures were represented through a mix of traditional and modern clothing and music.

Jonathan Fino Vargas, the president of Unified Fits, and Lia Torres, the vice president, spoke on the motivation behind the event.

“[The event] represents us as a whole, as a culture, how we feel and what fashion means to us,” Fino Vargas said. 

“Our community is our drive,” Torres added.

Fino Vargas said that one of the challenges involved in setting up the event was “finding a team, and people who are as passionate as we are.” 

When asked about the relationship between music and fashion, Torres pointed at how each helps in the discovery of the other.

“Fashion is an outer experience of who we are as people and our music … is an inner experience for people, like ourselves, to know who we are.”

(Davon Marion / Fourth Estate)

BY NATHAN FERRARO, MANAGING EDITOR AND PETER MAHLER, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

In their final home game of the season, Mason women’s basketball (20-8, 15-2 in A-10) demolished Saint Joseph’s (19-9, 10-7) 85-59 behind a blistering 53% performance from beyond the arc, winning their fourth straight game against one of the hottest teams in the conference on Feb. 25.

This win marks the third straight 20-win season under Head Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis as the Patriots begin gearing up to defend their A-10 title.

After a tight first quarter, the game broke open in the second as the Patriots outscored the Hawks 22-11, shooting 58% while holding them to just 25% from the field. Freshman Mary Amoateng fueled the surge, scoring 14 first-half points on 5-5 shooting from the field. 

The performance punctuates a standout month for the young scorer, who has scored double digits in five of her last seven outings, averaging almost 12 ppg and showcasing improvement coming off the bench.

“Mary is just so confident when she goes out there,” Blair-Lewis said. “She’s relentless, and she’s just so confident.” 

Amoateng says her goal is to continue to be confident and take shots she’s capable of making as her Mason career continues. 

Throughout the season, Mason has largely relied on strong defensive outings. Most notably, they held Richmond, the A-10’s top scoring team, to just 37 points on Feb. 16. The offense led the way against Saint Joseph’s, dropping 85 points on what had been the third-best scoring defense in the A-10.

The Hawks battled early on, with junior guard Gabby Casey and senior forward Faith Stinson combining for 20 points on 6-11 shooting in the first half. Stinson’s team-leading 15 points provided headaches in the paint all game long, but a leg injury to Casey late in the first quarter neutered the St. Joseph’s attack heading into the second.

Junior forward Zahirah Walton led all scorers with 29 points, including a 11-12 performance from the free throw line. With this being her third straight game logging 20 or more points, the second-highest scorer in the A-10 has powered Mason through their win streak. She also led the game with 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals.

(Davon Marion / Fourth Estate)

“It’s just special to see what Coach [Blair-Lewis] first told me, like, when I came to campus for my official visit; the vision she had, just to see it come to life, is really important to me,” Walton said.

Adding onto the Patriot total, junior guard Kennedy Harris scored 15 points, marking her eighth straight double-digit game as Mason’s second-leading scorer. She and Walton have teamed up all year long to put Mason in the driver’s seat for a double-bye in the A-10 Tournament as a top-four team in the conference.

With one game left in the regular season, Blair-Lewis reflected on the impact of the early season games on the team.

“We learned a lot of lessons in our non-conference,” she said. “Sometimes we took our foot off the gas a little early, thinking something was in the bag, and it’s really good to see them learn those lessons.”

She said the Patriots’ goal is to “continue to keep playing until it’s zeroes,” something the Patriots exemplified when leading throughout the second half.

The Patriots will close out the month with a 2 p.m. matchup at Duquesne today. Fans can stream the game live on ESPN+.

(Emma G. Schaible / Fourth Estate)

BY ISABELLA PEARLSTEIN, STAFF WRITER

George Mason’s Student Culinary Council met Feb. 23 to discuss improvements to campus dining halls. Vice President of Dining Operations Lou Christopher opened the meeting to discuss what “quality and value” means to students, which became the focus of the entire meeting.

Students discussed their opinions on the varieties of food at Southside and Ike’s, discrepancies between the menu boards and foods available, food and utensil quality and student awareness.

The most pressing concerns students had throughout the meeting was food availability during the day and night. The majority of those concerns stemmed from transition times between breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night service at Ike’s. Students mentioned times of not finding certain food items like protein.

One student suggested extending hours of operations for The Spot because they offer more vegan and vegetarian options. The student expressed the importance of extending hours for eateries like The Spot because of dietary restrictions during religious holidays, such as Ramadan.

Sky Robertson, a member of the Undergraduate Representative Body, mentioned lack of labelling or incorrect labelling of food as an issue, saying it has been difficult as someone with a dietary food restriction to identify specific food items such as pork.

Undergraduate Student Body President Jonathan Dubois raised concerns over cups and cutlery within Mason dining halls. 

Tyrone Robeson, director of residential dining, blamed the cloudy appearance of dining hall cups on “a serious hard water problem” at Ike’s.

Dubois described how valuable using dining dollars for retail dining and the Mason Market is for him. Another student said they valued using meal swipe exchanges at The Eaterie.

Near the end of the meeting, the council discussed ways to get the student body more engaged with giving feedback about Mason Dining and ways to reach out and engage with students as a whole.

According to Christopher, the meeting had the biggest turn out he has seen. 

“The biggest thing that I’m walking away with right now is a lot of the issues students have could be solved in the moment if folks would share that feedback in the moment,” Christopher said. “I think it was even difficult for students to come together with what’s the perfect menu.”

Andrew Colasanto, the URB’s dining liaison, said he “was really pleased with the turnout today.” 

“[The Culinary Council] seemed much more open to our personal feedback, especially when it came to a lot of the smaller things like cleanliness. I did appreciate how open they seemed about it compared to the past where they seemed more dismissive,” Colastano said.

(Sam Douglas / Fourth Estate)

BY SAM DOUGLAS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Michael J. Meese was elected as rector of the George Mason Board of Visitors today in the governing body’s first meeting since their overhaul following the January inauguration of Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

The rector presides over the board and gavels full board meetings. Meese had previously served as vice rector since the start of the 2024 academic year. He replaces Rector Cully Stimson, whom he had served under and who resigned shortly after Spanberger’s inauguration.

Meese is one of only four visitors remaining who were nominated to the board by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin. While some other newly appointed visitors have been part of Mason’s BOV in the past, Meese is the longest active visitor, having served on the board since 2022.

(Sam Douglas / Fourth Estate)

Much of Meese’s tenure as vice rector coincided with a period of unrest and controversy surrounding the BOV. The governing body had lacked a quorum from Sept. 2025 to Jan., sparking protests when they continued to meet in executive community meetings. 

Along with President Gregory Washington, the board has been combating lawsuits from the federal government since the summer.

Previously, they had passed resolutions on antisemitism and DEI that were unpopular among some registered student organizations on campus.

During the end of the Academic Affairs committee meeting today, Tim Gibson spoke in disapproval of the decision to elect Meese as rector. Gibson is vice president of the GMU chapter of the American Association of University Professors, an organization that has organized multiple protests against the actions of the board.

“We are swearing in 12 new members today because the previous board abandoned their fiduciary duties and used their positions to advance a highly partisan and ideological agenda,” Gibson said, stating that he expresses the discontent of his colleagues regarding Meese’s election.

“We need new leadership, uncompromised leadership, leadership untainted by the past [and] leadership dedicated to their fiduciary duties and focused on the work of defending the bedrock values of the American higher education system,” Gibson concluded.

Along with being a board member, Meese also serves as the president of Armed Forces Mutual, a not-for-profit organization that provides life insurance to members of the armed forces and their families.

(Sam Douglas / Fourth Estate)

Sumeet Shrivastava was also elected as vice rector. Shrivastava, a Mason alum, was one of the 12 new visitors sworn in during the Feb. 26 meeting. 

Along with Meese, Secretary Armand Alacbay and visitors Jeffrey A. Rosen and Jon M. Peterson remain from the previous board.

(Jordan Giles / Fourth Estate)

BY NATHAN FERRARO, MANAGING EDITOR AND BRIAN A. HAYUM, SPORTS EDITOR

Mason men’s basketball has lost three straight games for the first time in nearly two years, falling to the Dayton Flyers 82-67 on Feb. 18. Javon Bennett and Amaël L’Etang led the Flyers with a combined 43 points, shooting 7-12 from three. 

The wire-to-wire loss leaves the Patriots tied with Saint Joseph’s and Dayton for third place in the conference. 

Graduate guard Jahari Long was the first Patriot to score nearly six minutes into the first half, setting the stage for a rough night of catch-up for Mason. Dayton’s 7-point halftime lead proved to be enough, as the Patriots failed to get within 5 points in the second half.

Dayton Head Coach Anthony Grant’s team picked up where they left off in the first half, growing the lead to 12 in just four minutes and enjoying as much as a 19-point lead with a little over five minutes left in the game.

Long led Mason’s scoring effort with 17 points, while senior guard Fatt Hill notched 15 of his own. The loss is the Patriots’ third straight by double digits after starting the season with a record-breaking 21-3 stretch. 

“I just thought, playing at home, we’d have enough fire, we’d have enough care, we’d show enough physicality and toughness, and we just didn’t show that,” Head Coach Tony Skinn said.

Junior center Riley Allenspach echoed Skinn’s message. “We gotta find some toughness that we haven’t had in the last few games. Once we find that, we’ll be fine.”

If the Patriots want to be considered fine going into postseason play, they will need junior guard Kory Mincy to overcome a thumb injury that has limited Mason’s leading scorer to 5.6 ppg on 11-41 FG.

Despite his star player’s struggles, Skinn commended Mincy’s efforts during the game.

“I’m proud of Kory, cause Kory’s fighting through it,” Skinn said. “He’s giving everything that he has, and, you know, he’s going to continue to do so.”

The slump may have Mason fans worried, but the third-year head coach is not ready to panic.

“I’m never gonna hit the panic button,” Skinn said. “We’ve got four games left. We’ve gotta find a way.”

The Patriots will have a chance to end the skid when they travel to Philadelphia tonight, Feb. 25, to play the Saint Joseph’s Hawks for the second time in five games. Fans can tune into the 7 p.m. tip-off on ESPN+.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The attribution of the accompanying photo was corrected. (Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1:18 P.M.)

(Jordan Giles / Fourth Estate)

BY YONATAN DANIEL, STAFF WRITER AND PETER MAHLER, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Behind a resurgent Zahirah Walton, women’s basketball (19-8, 14-2 in A-10) defeated George Washington (14-15, 6-10 in A-10) 67-52 on Feb. 21. Their third win in a row puts the Patriots in the driver’s seat for a coveted double-bye. 

This day was as much of a celebration for the fans as it was for the players. Before tipoff, the team’s graduating class was seen at center court with their families to commemorate Senior Day, and the EagleBank Arena crowd was engulfed in a sea of pink to honor those affected by breast cancer. Rounding out the festivities, dozens of Girl Scouts flooded the court at halftime to cheer on Mason.  

Walton has bounced back after a rough 5-26 shooting stretch against Richmond and Rhode Island, scoring 20 or more points in back to back games. The second-leading scorer in the A-10 scored 22 against GW, shooting 8-18 from the field.

“You know, she just went through a tough spell,” Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis said. “I don’t think anybody got nervous, but I think for her, seeing the ball go through the hoop more consistently is really helping her stay consistent.”

Junior guard Kennedy Harris and freshman guard Mary Amoateng accompanied Walton with 26 combined points as Mason’s offense thrived in transition.

Mason’s fifth-ranked scoring defense showed out, converting 15 GW turnovers into 20 points. With three Patriots having multiple steals, GW had a hard time holding onto the ball. 

Harris added a game-high 3 steals to her 14 points, capping off a well-rounded performance. 

“I just take pride in my defense,” she said. “I want to be able to play both sides of the ball well.” 

Her versatility was on full display midway through the second quarter, when she stole the ball and immediately found Amoateng for a transition 3-pointer to extend the lead to 26-22. Mason was lethal on the fast break, outscoring GW 16-0 in transition.

In the first quarter, Mason only held a 21-17 lead. Despite shooting a blistering 50% from the field in the first quarter, fouls late in the period gave GW much-needed life after the Patriots came out hot.

In the second quarter, Mason would extend the lead behind a 16-9 quarter. The Patriots suffocated the Revs on defense, forcing the visiting team to shoot 25% in the quarter. 

The pressure did not let up in the second half. Mason forced three shot clock violations, including two late in the third quarter. 

With this win, Mason’s conference record improves to 14-2, placing them firmly at second in the standings. Their next test will come against a red-hot Saint Joseph’s team that has won four straight games. 

With only two games left in the season, Wednesday’s rematch against Saint Joseph’s won’t be an easy game. In their last matchup on Jan. 18, the Patriots came out victorious, winning 66-59 on the back of a 22-point performance from Harris.

Fans can watch the high-stakes rematch tonight on ESPN+ as the Patriots continue to prevail during this three-game streak.

(Sam Douglas / Fourth Estate)

BY SAM DOUGLAS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Following a whirlwind fall semester, George Mason University’s Undergraduate Representative Body has found their rhythm after the inauguration of Undergraduate Student Body President Jonathan Dubois in late January.

Dubois’ executive team has begun to take shape, with Zoë Oliver in place as vice president for marketing and relations and Emily Mulumba sworn in as vice president for membership development and training at the Jan. 29 meeting. 

However, the positions of executive vice president and vice president for outreach remain vacant.

As Gov. Abigail Spangberger’s inauguration has caused a flood of bills in the Va. General Assembly, it has also caused an influx of resolutions in the URB.

The body has passed resolutions in support of House Bills 780, 1312 and 1279 and Senate Bill 494. They are currently on the floor of the Va. General Assembly. 

HB780 and SB494 cover the oversight boards of public universities; if passed, they could result in the undergraduate student body president getting a vote at Mason Board of Visitors meetings. 

Previously, the undergraduate student body president has just been a non-voting student representative at BOV meetings. Their representative power lies in the fact that they are the only undergraduate Mason student permitted to speak at the meetings.

HB1312 would result in a two-year freeze of undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees at public universities. HB1279 would allow the construction of housing on land owned by places of worship and other tax-exempt nonprofit organizations.

The passage of these resolutions are mostly ceremonial; however, the URB commits to advocating for the bills during Mason Lobbies, an event where student representatives travel to Richmond to lobby state legislators on behalf of causes significant to the student body.

Recent weekly URB meetings have featured lengthy debates — they spent almost an hour at the Feb. 12 meeting deciding whether to commit $1,000 of their budget to restock the Student Involvement office’s complimentary supply of Scantrons.

At the Feb. 19 meeting, discussion centered on what the URB was going to support when lobbying at the state capital. “R. 15: A Resolution to Endorse Legislation to Protect our International and Immigrant Student Communities” was co-endorsed by the Hispanic and Latine Leadership Alliance and passed unanimously.

“All the issues we’ve had from ICE has particularly hit my community,” said Gabriel Muñoz, president of HLLA, who spoke from the gallery in support of the bill.

(Sam Douglas / Fourth Estate)

Another proposed resolution sparked debate. “R. 17: A Resolution to Support Legislation for Public Sector Collective Bargaining” was criticized by some for being voted on without having gone through the committee process.

“This is fundamentally illogical,” Representative Andre Esteves said to the bill’s co-sponsor Griffin Crouch. The two debated animatedly during a recess of the URB meeting.

Crouch maintained that, due to Mason Lobbies drawing nearer, the resolution needed to be passed as soon as possible. Esteves said he had several issues with the bill and that it should go back to the URB’s Government and Community Relations committee for debate. 

(Sam Douglas / Fourth Estate)

“There are substantive things that need to be changed,” Esteves said. The motion to send the bill back to committee passed 16-3, with five representatives abstaining.

Due to many members being newly elected to the URB, decorum has been an issue repeatedly brought up by Dubois and Clerk Andrew Boese. 

The meeting on Feb.19 began with laminated cheat sheets of “Robert’s Rules of Order” being handed out. “Robert’s Rules of Order” is a 150 year old guide on professional procedure for meetings and governance. 

Near the end of the meeting, Dubois reminded the representatives to maintain professionalism and “refrain from emotional outbursts.”

“We are not siblings … In here, we are representatives,” Dubois said.

(Andrew T. Yarbrough / Fourth Estate)

BY ANDREW T. YARBROUGH, STAFF WRITER

Mason’s Computer Science Club and PatriotHacks hosted HackFax x PatriotHacks, a 72-hour hacking challenge, from Friday, Feb. 13 to Sunday, Feb. 15 on campus. The event brought students from over 30 colleges and a total of over 500 participants, according to the organizers. 

The community-building event was both a Capture The Flag (CTF), where participants completed short security challenges, and a hackathon where participants collaborated to build software or hardware projects in a short amount of time. The hackathon was also an official Major League Hacking member event. 

Major League Hacking is dedicated to building the hacker community across the world, giving insight and guidance on organizing major events. The organization sent a representative to Hackfax x PatriotHacks to ensure the event went smoothly.  

They also provided students access to developer tools like Gemini, GitHub Copilot, DigitalOcean, ElevenLabs, Solana and Snowflake. Students at the event could borrow devices from the DigiKey hardware lab like Raspberry Pi, Google Home and Arduinos to return at the end of the weekend.

Throughout the weekend, students participated in workshops on various topics including “User Interface/User Experience” design by Peraton, “How to Pitch Ideas” by Colorstack, “How to Maximize Total Compensation” by the National Society of Black Engineers and a women in STEM panel and early career panel provided by Microsoft employees. 

(Andrew T. Yarbrough / Fourth Estate)

Over 15 organizations provided a total of 27 workshops in the Johnson Center and Horizon Hall.

The weekend kicked off on Friday, Feb. 13, at an opening ceremony where the organizers introduced the sponsors of the event, including AWS, Cloudforce, Microsoft, Peraton and Cipher Tech Solutions. The sponsors also introduced the prizes students could win and the categories each hackathon team could participate in. 

Teams could participate in a range of categories for their hackathon project, including categories like sustainability, health/health care, education, blockchain, cyber and security presented by the organizers, or categories like PatriotAI, UI/UX, startups and digital forensics presented by sponsors.

The event was open to everyone regardless of skill level. For those that were new to hackathons and CTFs, there was a virtual “Intro to Hackathon” event and “CTF Info Session” before the weekend began. 

AI use was highly encouraged, with multiple seminars showcasing how to use the latest AI models like Google Gemini, GitHub Copilot and Mason’s own PatriotAI provided by Cloudforce, another one of the event sponsors.

While the hackathon project encompassed most of the weekend, the CTF portion went from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, giving students the opportunity to complete as many challenges as possible. The CTF staff provided support, guidance and answers for participants on Sunday. 

The event continued through Sunday with judging of the hackathon projects throughout most of the day in Horizon Hall. The event concluded with an ending ceremony at 7 p.m., with winners receiving prizes for both the CTF events and the hackathon. 

When they weren’t preparing their demonstrations or completing challenges, students participated in events such as a gaming tournament by Ernest and Young, one of the largest professional services companies in the world, break dancing by BreakFamous, a club at Mason and card games provided by the Engineering and Computing Student Council.

Even though the event was technical, challenging and hands-on, Computer Science Club President Emmanuel Ortega, a junior majoring in Computer Science, emphasized that the organizers want everyone to know the event was really about “building community.”